Suction-tube for hydraulic dredging-machines.



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L. J. BALTZ.

SUGTION TUBE FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. so. 1910.

1,024,664, Patented Apr.. 30, 1912.

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L. J. BALTZ. SUGTION TUBE FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED NOV. 30. 1910. v v 1,024,664. Patented Apr. 3o, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 24 j Ji f 5, V

LOUIS J'. IBALTZ, OF BUFFALO', NEW YORK.

SUCTION-TUBE FOR HYDRAULIC DREDGING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led November 30, 1910. Serial No. 594,929.

To all whom it may cof/wcm: v

Be it known that l', Louis J. BALTZ, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Suction-Tubes for Hydraulic Dredging-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to suction tubes for hydraulic dredging-machines, and more particularly to means within the tube for crushing rock or other solids drawn into the tube.

It has for its primary object the provision of a suction tube so constructed and equipped that solids drawn into the tube will be crushed, and in which provision is also made for continuing the feeding of material through the tube while the solids are being crushed and momentarily close the tube at the crushing point.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a tubeof the kind described wherein a by-pass or by-passes are arranged around the crushing point so that while the crusher is in action upon a rock or other solid matter, the loose material which is capable of being passed through the pump, can be directed through the by-pass or bypasses and thus continue the pumping action while the solids are being crushed.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a simple and effective crushing means particularly designed for use in a suction tube.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the subjoined claims.

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification. Figure 1 is a plan viewv of a portion of a suction tube equipped with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section through the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3 3,'Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 4.-4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 5 5, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 6 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 7 7, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on a reduced scale, taken on line 8 8, Fig. 2. Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section similar to Fig. 2, showing my invention in modified form.

The reference letter A designates a por- Patenteaapr. so, 1912.

tion of a suction tube, such as hydraulic machines are equipped with, and through which the lmaterial dug from a bank, canal, or the like by the digging implement of the machine is drawn by a suitable pump provided for the purpose.

My invention provides for a crusher section, herein designated B, which is interposed between the ordinary lengths of suction-pipe. The crusher-section has its in let at one end, as ata, and its outlet at its other end, as at al, and connected with the inlet end of said section is shown a portion of an ordinary suction-pipe a2, while a3 represents a portion of an ordinary suction-pipe connected to the outlet end of the crusher-section. The crusher-section is cylindrical in cross section at it-s ends to conform to the pipes a2, a3; but intermediately, it is enlarged laterally, as at a4, and in' the main is of substantially rectangular formation in cross section with a depressed bottom a5, which is alined with the cylindrical end portions.

The crusher-section B is bolted or otherwise secured to the pipe sections a2, a3, and has a main passage B1 and two side passages or by-passes B2; the side passages or by-passes being separated from the main passage by walls C. Said by-passes open into the main passage B1 near the inlet end of the crusher section, as at b, and the entrances thus provided for the by-passes are each equipped with a bar b1 to prevent the admission thereto of solids, such as rocks and the like, which may be drawn into the suction-pipe. The bottoms of the by-passes are in a plane above the bottom of the main passage so that the solids which naturally travel along in contactrwith the bottom of said main passage, tend to vtravel in a straight line and are directed between the walls C from the points of entrance to the by-passes. The bottoms of the by-passes are Vinclined from their entrances to the points Z22, at which points they merge into the bottom of the main passage, the bypasses having their outlets in' rear of the rear ends of the walls C.

The space between the walls C may Well be termed a crusher chamber, and from the outlet end of said crusher-section, the top wall is inclined to the outlet end of the crusher chamber to form a throat D. The crusher chamber is extended upward to form a pocket E and it yhas a removable top c.

The bottom of the crusher-cha1nber is castmuch heavier than the remaining portion of the bottom and is reinforced by webs F to withstand the crushing force and itis provided on its upper face with a depression f in which is fitted a liner f1 of chilled iron or other hardened metal. Y

Situated in the pocket E directly above the liner f1 is a crushersjaw G which is normally inclined and pivotally secured between the walls C by means of a pivot-bolt g. The underside of saidjaw is provided with a depression g1 in which is fitted a plate g2 of chilled iron or other hardened metal, between which latter and the liner f1 the solids to be crushed are drawn. rIhe Crusher jaw is inclined rearward, and in Fig. 2, the pivot bolt Gr is shown at the lower or rear end of the jaw while the free end of the aw is held in a plane even with or above'the normal top of the Crusher section, thus permitting the material to be crushed to enter beneath the crusher jaw without obstruction.

Rising from the crushcr section is a pair of standards II which, in the particular construction shown, are extensions of the walls C, and in said standards is secured an arbor I, held in position by nuts z' threaded onto its outer ends and impinging against the outer faces of said standards. J designates a pair of power arms having one of their ends loosely held for oscillation on said ar bor I and spaced apart by means of a collar j. Secured to the underside of each of these power arms is a yoke jl by means of which the upper ends of plungers K are held to said power arms, each yoke having an opening jg through which the plungers are passed and the plungers having lateral extensions jg which are held between the yokes and the power arms, as best shown in Figs. 2 and G. The upper and lower faces of said extensions are made convex to permit of slight rocking motion thereof under the change of position of the parts to which the plungers are secured. These plungers pass through stuffing boxes K1 formed in the removable cover e, and their lower ends are bolted to the Crusher jaw near its outer or free end, as at k.

A second pair of standards L rise from the crusher section in rear of the standards II and rotatable therein is an eccentric shaft M, the eccentric portion fm, of which is located between the standards, and connected to said shaft are the rear ends of the power arms J, said arms being separated from each other by a collar Ml which surrounds said shaft. Secured to the eccentric shaft outside of the standard L are fly wheels N and at one end of the shaft a belt pulley O is secured, around which may be passed a belt to rotate the eccentric shaft.

A handhole P is provided in the top wall of the Crusher-section directly in rear of its entrance and a cover p is bolted to said hand-hole in any practicable manner. It is the intention to close the various openings in the section in a water-tight manner, since in the hydraulic suction pipe a certain percentage of water travels therethrough.

Nhen the eccentric shaft is rotated, the power arms J are caused to oscillate, thus causing the plungers K to reciprocate through the cover or top of the Crusher chamber and by reason of the connection of the plungers with the Crusher jaw, the latter is caused to oscillate, thereby crushing stone or other solids so that they will easily pass through the throat D formed by restricting the passage directly in rear of the Crusher Jaw.

In the process of crushing large boulders so that they will pass through the throat D in crushed form, some time is necessarily consumed and the main passage is consequently shut olf for a short period of time. lVhen such conditions exist, the water and loose soil is drawn into the by-passes b2 and through them so that they enter the main passage in rear of the crusher chamber, thus preventing stoppage of the apparatus and providing a suction tube through which a constant flow of material is assured, regardless of the fact that boulders or other solids may momentarily checlr the flow of material through the main passage.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9, the crusher jaw has its pivot g at its highest point, and in order to prevent material crowding up between the wall of the pocket, and the pivoted end of the crusher jaw, I secure a flexible plate R to the upper wall of the crusher chamber, which plate overlaps the pivoted end of the Crusher jaw and closes the space between said pivoted end and the adjacent wall of the chamber.

Having thus described my inventiongvhat I claim is,-

l. In an'apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube restricted at one point, a pivoted crusher-jaw wholly confined within said tube and arranged adjacent said restricted point, and means for oscillating said crusher-jaw.

2. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction-tube having a main passage and a by-pass opening with opposite ends into said main passage and separated from the latter by a wall, a crusher-element in the main passage be tween the ends of said by-pass, and means for operating said Crusher-element.

8. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube having a main passage and a by-pass at each side of the intermediate portion of said main passage separated from the latter by walls eX- tending from the entrance to the discharge ends of said by-passes, a crusher-element situated between said walls, and means for operating said Crusher-element.

4c. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube having a main passage and a by-pass at each side of said main passage connected to opposite ends of the latter, a guard-bar extending across the entrance end of each by-pass, a.

pivoted Crusher-jaw situated in said main passage between said by-passes, and means for causing said Crusher-jaw to oscillate.

5. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube having a main passage and a by-pa-ss at each side of said main passage opening into the latter with opposite ends, one end of each by-pass having its bottom in a plane above that of the main passage and inclined downwardly therefrom toward its opposite end, a Crusher-element situated between said bypasses, and means for actuating said Crusher-element.

6. In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube having a main passage and by-passes separated by said main passage and opening with opposite ends into the latter, said main passage being extended upward at a point between said by-passes to form a pocket and having a restricted portion at the rear end of said pocket, a Crusher-element located in said pocket, and means for actuating said Crusher-element.

7 In an apparatus of the kind described, the combination of a suction tube having an upward extension forming a pocket and a Crusher-lining at its bottom beneath said pocket, a crusher-element located in said pocket, and means located outside of said suction tube having connection through the wall of said tube in an air and water-tight manner with said Crusher-element.

In testimony whereof, I have aiixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS J. BALTZ.

Witnesses:

ELLA C. PLUECKHAHN, EMIL NEUHART.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

